Then Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Jimmy Deenihan catching a football during a June 2011 event commemorating 125 years of organized Gaelic games among transport workers. INPHO/DONALL FARMER
Former Kerry footballer Jimmy Deenihan says he does not expect there will be any intercounty action in the GAA this year. The corner-back, who was part of Kerry’s four-in-a row winning team in the late 1970s and early ’80s and later served as a Fine Gael T.D. and government minister, said: ‘‘It is impossible to foretell, but all the indications look like there will be no further GAA activity this year. It would not be the end of the world if there was no championship this year, absolutely not. And people have accepted that. Many of the people I have been in touch with at various levels in the GAA agree with that. They are obviously deferring on making that final decision. They are leaving the option open. I can understand they have to do that, other organizations are doing the same. They are deferring a decision just in case there may be a decrease. It is very difficult for the GAA. This is unprecedented, for everybody.’’
-- Sean Creedon
